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Advanced and Future Treatments for Parkinson’s

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While
there’s no cure for Parkinson’s disease, recent
research has led to improved treatments.

Scientists
and doctors are working together to find a treatment or prevention technique. Research
is also seeking to understand who is more likely to develop the disease. In
addition, scientists are studying the genetic and environmental factors that increase
the chance of a diagnosis.

Here
are the latest treatments for this progressive neurological disorder.

Deep Brain Stimulation

In
2002, the FDA approved deep brain stimulation (DBS) as a treatment for
Parkinson’s disease. But advances in DBS were limited because only
one company was approved to make the device used for the treatment.

In
June 2015, the FDA approved the Brio Neurostimulation System. This implantable device helped reduce symptoms by generating small
electrical pulses throughout the body.

Gene Therapy

Researchers
haven’t yet found a sure
way to cure Parkinson’s,
slow its progression, or reverse the brain damage it causes. Gene therapy has
the potential to do all three. Several studies have found that gene therapy can be a safe and effective
treatment for Parkinson’s disease.

Neuroprotective Therapies

Aside
from gene therapies, researchers are also developing neuroprotective therapies.
This type of therapy could help stop the progression of the disease and prevent
symptoms from getting worse.

Biomarkers

Doctors
have few tools for evaluating the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Staging, while useful, only monitors the
progression of motor symptoms related to Parkinson’s disease. Other grading scales exist, but they’re not used widely enough to be recommend as a general
guideline.

However,
a promising area of research may make evaluating Parkinson’s disease easier and more exact. Researchers are hoping
to discover a biomarker (a cell or gene) that will lead to more effective
treatments.

Neural Transplantation

Repairing the brain cells lost from
Parkinson’s
disease is a promising area of future treatment. This procedure replaces
diseased and dying brain cells with new cells that can grow and multiply. But neural
transplantation research has had mixed results. Some patients have improved
with the treatment, while others have seen no improvement and even developed more
complications.

Until a cure for Parkinson’s disease is discovered,
medications, therapies, and lifestyle changes can help those with the condition
live a better life.